Monday, June 18, 2012

What it means to be Steam Punk

Literary steam punk
is a strange and mysterious genre or sub-classifications within a larger genre. For example, a science fiction or fantasy
story, were it to have an airship or automaton would have elements of steam
punk, or a steam punk story, were it to have fairies or aliens, would be
considered to have elements of fantasy or science fiction. The word “punk” is
used as a method of “stealing” ideas or inventions from another time/reality/
or world. The term steam punk seems to envelope a large mass of ideas that need
sorting out. The history of steam punk is
well defined in Wikipedia and other sources, but an analysis of this genre is controversial,
so here is a rational layout, using definitive terms:

Victorian: Lucky for us Queen Victoria ruled Britain for
many years during a time in the world of high stakes and adventure. Many Steam punk stories are set in this era
also because it was the age of science where new inventions were conjured
constantly. They can include glamorous
fashions from the time period while ignoring cultural convention or proper
etiquette. In short, an author has many
options with setting, and Victorian works well.
Most settings help define genre such as American Wild West, Gothic , Industrial
Revolution etc.

Alternate history, retro
futurism, retrotronics: Taking a
moment in time and blending new elements to rewrite history. i.e. giving Napoleon
ray guns or making Abe Lincoln a vampire slayer. Jules Vern and Edgar Alan Poe
were originators of this genre.

Speculative fiction:
usually refers to future events that could possible happen. They can be post apocalyptic and dystopian. What if Britain won the American Revolution? What if there was a nuclear holocaust? What if?

Cyberpunk: Infusing
cyber technology into a historical setting such as computers, electricity, robots,
aliens, or laser weaponry. Think Cowboys
and Aliens. I will include time machines
in this category because whatever the source of power,
steam/clockwork/gas/electrical, the warping of time creates an element beyond
any technology we could imagine.

Gas Lamp, Urban myth:
Includes paranormal events that take place in a historical setting such as
Bramstoker’s Dracula. They include
elements of magic, mad science, optical illusions and creatures beyond normal
rules of existence. These legends are
well known for eliciting fear in the hearts of readers and therefore get
re-approached many times.

Clockwork: Often synonymous
with steam punk, this includes clockwork inventions that go beyond the confines
of reality i.e. the automaton and other devices based on simple and complex
mechanics like booby traps, weapons, locks, vehicles and so on.

Kite work/ Air work/
Water work etc.: Inventions using the power of wind water and air with the
ability to supersede average travel before it’s time i.e. gliders, ballooning, dirigibles,
air ships, blimps, hydrogen or gas powered flight, steam ships and
submersibles.

So the next time you are asked to classify the Invention of
Hugo Cabaret do not merely say, steam punk.
Saying a speculative, clockwork fiction set in historical France would
give a more accurate description.

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